Thursday, March 6, 2014

Giving Up Pope for Lent

Not really. But his interviews, yes. I found little to cheer me in the last. I do not know what he hopes to accomplish by them. Perhaps -- though he claims to detest celebrity -- he knows he is the smiling face of Catholicism. He is building capital, and making the Church attractive to the world.

But really, who can know? The usual suspects will seize upon any ambiguity to promote their agenda, and that will shape perceptions, and reality. Conservatives will become disenheartened. The sheep will be confused.

When the Church changes something, that will be worth paying attention to. Until then, I recognize it is just unhealthy for me to run this way and that based on the latest interview by Pope Francis. In charity and obedience, I will assume he is doing what seems best, and I will make an effort to pray for him and his intentions. (A standard requirement for indulgences.) Another Lenten exercise.

Here are the Pope's intentions through Lent from EWTN.

March

Respect for Women. That all cultures may respect the rights and dignity of women.

Vocations. That many young people may accept the Lord’s invitation to consecrate their lives to proclaiming the Gospel.

April

Ecology and Justice. That governments may foster the protection of creation and the just distribution of natural resources.

Hope for the Sick. That the Risen Lord may fill with hope the hearts of those who are being tested by pain and sickness.

3 comments:

A regular reader who refuses to use the combox countered with the latest poll on the Francis Effect. Yet the headline oversold the story. Mass attendance (surely the gold standard) has not increased, and those never attending actually rose a point. Those identifying Catholic also stayed the same. The Francis Effect on Bears is to make them want to go to sleep for a long time. Of course, everything has that effect on Bears.